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Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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On Saturday morning (36 hours ago) during a business trip to Atlanta I had an experience that I think puts me at high risk for HIV transmission. I am HIV neg (before Saturday have not had sex for months and was just recently tested). I met a guy at a bar and he followed me back to my hotel. We wanted to have sex. I asked if he was negative and DDF and he told me 1000%; in fact he told me he NEVER allows anyone to bareback him and told me firmly he would NOT let me have sex with him without a condom. I put the condom on and started to enter him. It immediately popped. If I was actually inside him, it was probably just an inch or two. I IMMEDIATELY pulled out – the condom was broken but it was totally clean; if I did have exposure it was less than 1 or 2 seconds. I immediately washed really good with soap and alcohol and ended the interaction. No blood no nothing.

I just read a few threads that say to the Forum’s knowledge no one has ever tested positive (especially an insertive anal top) from a condom break.

I am totally freaking out. I just need to know how low risk was this. The more the merrier in terms of responses and reassurance. I read that I should consider everyone to be poz, so if he was, -- OMG I need to calm down. Do I need PEP? Please help me understand. I always have safe sex and always always make sure the condom didn’t break before I throw it away after each sex act (I even fill it up with water to make sure there are no leaks). I am 34 years old this is my first condom break. Please please help me!!! What do I do?? I believe he is NEG but what if he was lying? OMG! Please help me.

You did have a risk to test for but this is clearly not a pep situation . Broken condom incidents rarely lead to HIV infections for the insertive partner and your risk was brief so you should test at 6 weeks past any possible exposure and again at 3 months to confirm the results . Due to the risk you incurred you should expect and be optimistic that it will be negative ... its true that I have not seen a broken condom incident lead to an infection for the insertive partner .

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI.Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence .

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Billy, our responses are always given with the thought that the other person is positive. Like Jeff I yours as more of a theoretical than an actual risk. In other words an extremely lower risk and no, I don't see that doing PEP is indicated for you.

If you decide to get tested it should be at 6 weeks and 3 months. A negative at 6 weeks is an indication that you will very likely conclusively test negative at 3 months.

If you decide to do PEP, then counting weeks begins when you complete the 28 day course of meds. If you decide to do PEP, begin as soon as possible. Ultimately that's a decision you have to make.

Andy after much reflection I decided not to do PEP. I am scared. You said I had more of a theoretical risk than actual..could u expand on that? This is really scary. The fact u have never known of a top with a 2 second exposure /condom break become poz is very comforting...will I be the first??? Any other words would be helpful. I know you are not a doctor but do u think Ill test neg? How do I get a grip??

I have not seen a condom break or brief insertion result in a HIV infection so you should test but expect a negative result . There is not much else we can do for you other than give you the facts and we have done that . If you are having anxiety issues please go see your doctor and get some help.